Podcasts about El Sereno

In SGV Connect 138, Streetsblog talked to Benito Flores and others in the Reclaimers movement that were helping him resist eviction in the Caltrans owned property he was living in. The Reclaimers are a group of formerly unhoused people who moved into Caltrans-owned properties in 2020 to both put a roof over their heads during a public health crisis and draw attention to the amount of publicly owned housing that was not being lived in during a nationwide housing crisis. After losing several court cases, Flores and other reclaimers were given a choice: move out of their house and work with the homeless authority to get new housing or stay and risk forcible eviction. Flores chose to stay, and sadly passed away after falling from a treehouse he built as a hideaway when the sheriffs or state police came. In this episode, we interview two reclaimers who chose the first option: leaving their reclaimed homes and working with HACLA. The interview takes place in Councilwoman Jurado's El Sereno office with Marta Escudero and Cecilia Lopez, members of the Reclaimers movement. In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, they occupied vacant Caltrans-owned homes in El Sereno, inspired by the Moms for Housing movement. Both describe how displacement and the housing crisis pushed them to act, with support from groups like ACE, Eastside Café, and HACLA. Initially granted two-year leases, Marta and Cecilia later faced eviction efforts and legal battles. Marta negotiated with HACLA to secure Section 8 housing in Boyle Heights, where she now lives with her daughters. She emphasizes the importance of staying in her community for family support and schooling needs. Cecilia, however, remains unhoused, still couch-surfing despite promises of permanent housing, and expresses frustration with HACLA's delays and broken commitments. For Streetsblog's complete five-year coverage for the Reclaimer movement, click here. A transcript of the interview is available below. SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.” Sign-up for our SGV Connect Newsletter, coming to your inbox on Fridays! Marta - Hello. My name is Marta Escudero. Cecilia - Hello. My name is Cecilia Lopez. Damien - ...and I'm Damian Newton. Nice to meet you. We should have done that when we got here instead of waiting for the recording. Anyway, we're in the El Sereno office of Councilwoman Jurado, and we're talking today with two of the Reclaimers. This is mostly for me when I'm listening to it five years from now, going, "Wait, what? It was in the office?"  So let's start the interview how we've started most of the interviews by just sort of recapping the beginning for anyone that's listening for the first time, because and for anyone that's listened before. I always think this is such a dramatic and unique story. It's always worth repeating in the words of the people that lived it. So why don't we just start with what a Reclaimer is and what happened in 2020 Marta - So at least for my side of the story, because there's multiple sides, I found out that ACE and LACLA, LATU, DSA were meeting months before. Well, during that time, I was couch surfing with my daughters, and I was falling into despair because there was no housing. And then I saw Moms for Housing on the TV, and I wanted to do something similar, inspired by these black moms that took housing up north, and so I started reaching out to people and letting people know what I wanted to do. And my friend Colleen, which she's amazing, she's the one that, like, really motivated me to do this.  She gave me the contact for Amy Scherer from ACE, and that's when I found out they had been planning this for a while. And then at the same time, Angela from Eastside Cafe put something on Facebook, and I reached out to her, and then they linked together. At that same time, Ruby Gordillo was doing canvassing of empty houses through ACE, and found these houses in El Sereno as well. So it was just all kind of meshed together. And we began planning, I believe in December I joined and we began planning more thoroughly, like in January, and then covid hit, and it was right in the lockdown.  We were even thinking, "Should we do it? Should we wait?" And then we said, "let's just do it." And it was right. It was just pure luck. It was right on the weekend of the lockdown. And so everything was in chaos, and the governor just let us slide. I think if it wasn't for that, I believe if it wasn't for that, we probably would have been taken out. Cecilia - Definitely... all hog tied. Damien - So with the support of all these groups, the two of you moved in separately to different houses in El Sereno, both in El Sereno, because I know there were other places that ... okay... both in El Sereno. You moved into houses during the first weekend of the lockdown. I don't think I ever put that together in my head that it was, Cecilia - It was March 14, I believe. Damien - Yeah, yeah. So you moved in. I know there was some, some action to try and get you out, but the governor's office actually stepped in and said, you know, let them stay. There's a crisis, and… Cecilia - We had sent letters first, because we were having a rough time in the beginning with CHP. Damien - That'd be the Highway Patrol, because these were Caltrans owned properties. Caltrans owned these properties because they were in the right of way of a freeway expansion that they wanted to do the 710, which was canceled in 2017, or 18, I believe. And then they still own the properties, although they're starting to divest the ones in Pasadena, I know they're being - and South Pasadena - those are being turned into the properties are, I believe, being demolished and turned into affordable housing, but the people that moved into them are not they may have an option to rent into the affordable housing, but there's no homeowner option that had been discussed when Caltrans bought these houses, like way back in the 70s. The 1970s. Okay, so the originally you were given one year leases, if I remember correctly, Marta - two-year leases. Damien - And so you stayed in there, then through 2022, and then there were legal efforts to evict and not evict, and tenants rights were claimed, and all that stuff went to court. Right? Marta - Yes, because we were given a two-year lease and the HACLA was not providing the housing we needed and were asking for, because people have individual needs, I especially requested to be geographically close, because I'm a single mother and I have all my support system here, plus my daughters, go to special schools.  They're unique. There's people from Santa Monica, from South LA. They go to these schools from the valley, because they're so unique that I can't find them anywhere else, and I didn't want to have to go through that commute. It's exhausting, and so I really fought for that to be included in HACLA. They think that anywhere is okay, and I don't agree with that. I feel that people have unique needs, and housing should provide that for us as well. Cecilia - I feel the same way, except I don't have kids, but my roots are here. I was born here, and so that's all I know. I am used to the area. I'm comfortable being here, and I feel safe here. Damien - So the legal actions around that I know went on for a couple years with eviction efforts, efforts to oppose in court, as I understand it, the legal efforts were sort of exhausted sometime in 2024. One of the reasons we're doing this interview is we did the one with Benito and Roberto a couple months ago. Benito, when offered something after the court cases expired, chose to stay in his house and fight eviction. Other people made different decisions when HACLA made offers to them for housing. So I guess I'm get both of you, I'm assuming, took the HACLA offer -- Cecilia -- but I think we're bypassing a place here because the first two years we were living in the house that we began... Damien - The reclaimed house? Cecilia - Right and then during that time, after the two years, we were asked to move because the houses supposedly needed to be inspected. And then were given another lease for another two years into the new home, which was still in the Caltrans homes. Damien - So you moved from one home to a different one. It's still that Caltrans owns properties in 2022ish. Cecilia - But that was only because they needed us to sign the lease, the agreement that none of us were really happy about, but we really didn't have a choice to not sign. Damien - Okay. So the original two years, and then there was another two years in a different house. And so it was when that expired. And the legal options were out. And then HACLA came to you guys with a new offer, which I'm guessing, since we're here, you both took, could you describe sort of what that offer was like? You know, when we talked to Benito, he was not happy with the offer, but it was for, I believe, four years. A four year lease? Marta - We all had different-- Damien - Okay, everyone was offered a different lease Marta - Based on our circumstances. Cecilia - I think they offered him four years to live in a hotel, and he was not happy about that. Mart -  I wouldn't have taken that deal either, but I do think there was room for negotiation, because that's what I did with HACLA. I was offered some housing at first, and I said, No. I kept saying, No, this is what I want, and you need to look for this. And I also sought outside support so I could push what I wanted, and I got something fairly good in the end.  The  eviction process is horrible, and I already knew I wasn't gonna win legally. We didn't get these houses legally in the first place,  we weren't gonna get them through the legal system. I already had that in mind. I was going to get evicted at some point, and so I needed to prepare for that. And it was a very stressful time, and I couldn't be in despair for my daughters. And so I needed to be in a place where I could be able to think and just keep going. I felt I couldn't stay. I wanted to avoid as much as possible, doing eviction defense. I already had a plan to do it, if that was the last resort.  First of all, I didn't want to bring violence to my community. Second of all, I also have a lot of vulnerable people in my life that are immigrants that need more care, and so I want to be well because I can't pour from my empty cup, and also because of my daughters. And so I was really pushing for HACLA to do something that was good for us, in order for me and my daughters to be well. And I had supporters that pushed because first they kept, like giving me less money or trying to locate me in different areas, and I kept with supporters, phone banking, emailing, and I was able to get a pretty decent deal.  It's in Boyle Heights, which is close to me, and I've lived in Boyle Heights. Before it's section eight, we actually have more room inside. And it's, yeah, amazing public housing, which I think needs to be more of, and that's why I took that deal. Damien - So this is an open ended lease, though it doesn't expire in a certain number of years. Cecilia - That's what we were promised, exactly. Marta - I got what HACLA had promised me in the first place, and I couldn't say, No, my daughters are thriving there, and I really like that place, and now I'm able to offer more support. I'm also part of another organization, J Town Action and Solidarity, that works with unhoused communities and anti gentrification work. And I want to, I want to be there for the most vulnerable people, and now I'm able to do that, that I'm better. I know I was spiraling during that time, and 50 knows I was in grad school, I was working. I'm a single mom. I was facing eviction. I was like, in this or I was just like, it was too much. That's a lot. Damien - I've done many of those things, but not all at once, and mercifully, have never had to worry about eviction. But that's, that's that's a full plate, and now you feel like you're on the other side the HACLA came through with it, with the promise that a print gave to you, and as a result, you're able to now start giving back to or continue giving back to your community in a different way. Marta - Yeah and HACLA shouldn't just do this to be because I'm not special. HACLA should do this to everybody, because everyone deserves not to be displaced, to stay in their community and to have equitable housing. Damien - And I think that's a big point about staying in the community. When we've done homelessness coverage. We did a series back before the pandemic. The goal of that series was to go and interview and visit different places that offered different steps in the process for someone who was experiencing homelessness to fully house. So we visited, you know, temporary shelters and interim housing and that place up in Glendale, Ascencia and stuff like that. And what we heard when we talked to the people, was like, Yes, I'm very grateful to have this roof over my head. But you know, the people I know are 20 miles away and 20 miles away in LA County is a real barrier to being able to have any sort of interaction, much less still be part of the community. Marta - They're isolated. They're a lot of them are in carceral states in shelters as well, and so and displaced from their communities is very isolating, and people with mental health issues, Cecilia - They don't feel safe, and they pass. Marta - So we need better alternatives, for sure. Damien - So what's your experience with your current housing situation? Cecilia - I am still unhoused. I was also promised permanent housing. I was offered. We started to go through the paperwork, and then, for some reason, it just stopped. I continued with my eviction and, well, that was not easy, like she says, and that was just an awful long experience. But I'm glad it's over, but I also am not housed since, since then, I've been couch surfing again, like I was in the beginning, and so I'm very displeased, but I'm still working on it. Damien - Is HACLA still involved? Cecilia - Yes, because they're the only ones that I could be reaching out to, but I believe, also not to go back on what Benito was offered. And I think that was why he was so very upset, is because we all were promised and offered permanent housing. So when they offered him four years in the hotel, of course, he was upset. Damien - Benito  challenged us to reach out to HACLA to see if we could get a response as to what happened, and we got a very legalese - we did - We got a very legalese response. I imagine if we reached out on your behalf, it would be the same thing we can't discuss. You know, you know exactly. Cecilia - That's their good excuse. Damien - Yeah, I imagine it might actually be almost the same statement with, like, two or three, you know, things where they changed pronouns and changed his name to your name. But do you, I guess, regret or the decision not to go the same route he did as far as, like, a physical resistance of eviction? Or do you--- Cecilia - I would have never gone that route. I would have never, ever gone that route, ever, and I feel bad that he did. Damien - So what do you see as a potential next step? Is it hoping the HACLA process works out? Cecilia - Exactly, I still have hope. Damien - Yeah, and so we talked to someone. I talked to someone last night on the phone, before this, and she can't be with us today for the interview, and when she was. It gave a very similar story to the one we've heard today. And she was saying that she is in housing now. She took a HACLA deal, but she misses her old place and preferred it. And she actually was saying, like, if my message, if we were to do the interview, my message would be, you know, put me back in my old house, if that were and it's probably not an option, because they probably have plans for that area, but if there was, area. But if there was an option to go back to the house that you had been in-- Cecilia - I knew they  would come to my house to do inspections and tell me, would you please stop doing, you know, like renovations and repairs on the house? And I said, Well, I'm here. I want to enjoy my house, and I want to make sure that it's safe and that it's livable and presentable, if anything. And they would just continue to tell me, you know you're never going to live here forever. And I said, I know that, but while I'm here, I want to enjoy my house. Marta - Another option is that these houses are going for bidding, and El Sereno Community Land Trust would want to purchase these houses. The problem is, like, last year, the land trust got like, probably one of the worst houses and just one. And the people, the agencies, entities that are getting more of the houses are Habitat for Humanity... is one, I don't know Cecilia - That's one of the main ones. Marta - That's one of the main ones that's getting that, and they're basically just flipping the houses because we tried to apply, and it's not at our income level, so it's not for deeply affordable housing. The Land Trust would like to bring the Reclaimers back, especially like Cecilia and other people that have roots in El Sereno. I think it's very important for them to come back to these houses. And so we're trying to get Caltrans to realize this and prioritize Reclaimers to come back to these houses. I know I have a friend that's doing work in Altadena also trying to get Caltrans houses for the people that were displaced during the fires. Like those are people that we need to prioritize. I feel, Cecilia - I feel that if it wasn't for our movement, then these homes would have still been vacant and rotting and going to waste also. Damien - Well, I think that's one of the reasons this story has captured people's imagination in a way that a lot of other stories that deal with issues around the unhoused haven't the direct action and the focus that was done on it, and how that really changed the conversation in this area around those housing and those issues. And I know when we're traveling for work, I'll have people in other parts of the state, if, when I say, you know, Streetsblog, oh, and I do our San Gabriel, they're like, Oh, you did the Reclaimers podcast. And then they'll ask for updates. And sometimes I have them right at my fingertips, and sometimes I have to look them up. Cecilia - We also know that there has never been anyone to stand up to the state, to bring this up, into the light, to let everyone know that this data has all these properties they're just wasting. And this is not just in El Sereno. It's statewide. Marta - That's like our major outrage, that these houses have been sitting vacant for so long and nothing was being done. And then it's not only here, like all the states, a lot of them Caltrans owned by Caltrans, sometimes by county, by city. How are we in a housing crisis? And these houses are sitting vacant, immoral? And that's why, to me, legality doesn't matter. Of like, yes, we took the houses, but we took it because it's immoral to have them just rotting while people are -- Cecilia - It should be against the law. It really should. The houses are being wasted. There's people suffering out there daily, every day, everywhere, statewide. Damien - And you were making the point earlier that, yes, after some letters, the governor's office interceded and told the state, we pretty much have to stop doing it, to stop trying to force you out, and the county and city to figure something out. But do you think that that was probably not just a result of the public pressure, but also a result of the chaos of the pandemic, or do you think this could have been a very different story? Cecilia - Oh definitely without pandemic it, it would have probably never have happened. Damien - Yeah, you can't see it, but everybody's shaking their heads in the room for the people that are listening. So we've discussed a little bit about the current situations, the housing situations you're in, and what the next steps are for the movement to try and force governments to do something with the properties they have that are not being utilized. You know, the homelessness crisis hasn't gone away in the past five years. Cecilia - It's never gonna go away unless there's permanent housing, affordable, permanent housing. Damien - So what do we see as the next step for the movement from here, for me, sure we can get, we can do it locally, on what we're doing, and then maybe expand to talk about, like, what we would like to see the state do in future years. Marta - Right. Oh, for me, locally, with the Reclaimers to get more of the houses through Caltrans, either individually, if that's an option, or through El Sereno community land trust as a whole, I feel like there should be more reclaiming like I think me I wanted also like moms for housing inspire more reclaiming locally and nationally, worldwide. I feel like we need to build a reclaiming movement, because again, it's immoral to have vacant houses while people are suffering in this supposedly fabricated housing crisis, because it's not natural, and so it's a product of capitalism and All these, all these oppressions we're under. So I want more people to reclaim and if people need support, I'm here for it... Cecilia - A lot of people may not see it as being the correct way, but if we were able to get others aware of all these homes that are rotting then, then then if we, if that's the way we have to do it, then, then that's what we're going to do. Marta - One of the oppositions we had in this neighborhood, and I think in general, is like, I work hard for my housing, so why should you get handouts? And I don't agree with that, like I could work hard for my housing, and I still think that people deserve housing because, not because I did it and I suffered and I wasn't able to spend time with my daughters because I was working so hard. Doesn't mean that I want better for other people. I think as humans, we should want better for other people, and if that takes a housing I know like it helps so many people to have a house-- Cecilia - People really don't start to see it unless it's right there in your front lawn. Somebody pulls up a tent and starts living on your sidewalk. Then they start to see it, then it starts to affect them. Damien - I know it's very early in the process for this, but have any of the candidates for governor, in any way, said anything about this that would give you any hope. It seems like this is something that Villaraigosa would have picked up on. Marta - Yeah, they either have ignored us or maybe they don't know, but I feel like we need to be out there more now and start demanding housing, permanent housing, stable housing, housing that really cares about people. Because the most vulnerable people on the streets I work with are unhoused all the time, I know their stories. I know they're highly traumatized, a lot of times, foster care, children that have weaned out of the system, that don't have support.  There's abused women out there, veterans, people that can't pay their medical bills, and so we tend to stigmatize or stereotype, "oh, it's just addicts," but often also substance abuse. I feel like anyone, and I don't care if they're addicts, they need housing, but substance abuse doesn't come from prior. A lot of times it's what they do to survive on the streets. Damien - There was actually the West Side city council member Mike Bonin, who would talk about how there was a period in his life where he was homeless, and talked about how the drug abuse followed the becoming homeless, not the other way, not the other way around. And he would talk very movingly about it, as the council was, you know, ready to do something horrible about criminalizing homelessness. And at the time, the council was even more conservative than it is now, so there were a lot of 12 to one, you know, with two people, not there type votes with Mike, you know, being the one. And I think, though, that that's, that's a very interesting point, in a way, he humanized the issue for a lot of West siders, that whose only experience with homelessness was that person who was pulling up a tent in front of their house or pulling up an RV in front of their house. So their house. I don't know where I was going with that. Cecilia - Also there, there were many, many vouchers that were unused, that were supposed to have been given out. And Huckle said on them, a lot of Section Eight vouchers are on. Used every year, and they expire. And so what no one ever looks into that portion like, why none of those, all those vouchers, should have been used because there are enough people to use them, and no one ever gets that side of the story either. You know, I think they need to dig deeper. And why are there so many homeless people out there? HACLA is not helping by doing such things. Damien - So I feel like we've covered a lot of the issues we wanted to talk about. I know that sometimes, since we do this very conversationally, these podcasts, instead of a list of questions, sometimes there's something people are really dying to say, and I just didn't ask the right questions. So at the end, I am always like, if we miss something, feel free to just chime in and say it, because I want to make sure that we're getting your stories and your beliefs and opinions and values out there as much as possible. So if there's something we missed, please just fill it in. You can say I did a great job. That is totally acceptable. Chris is shaking his head because he's heard me say this so many times. Marta - Yeah. Well, I mean to me, it's just the issue of displacement worldwide, especially right now with Palestine, I feel really strongly about that, like I don't. I think people deserve to be in the places where they feel comfortable in the places where they have support. And like Trump says, "Oh, they could just go to another Arab country." Like that doesn't make sense to me. Same thing with HACLA. "You could just go to the valley and find another school. That's fine." No. Like, no. We have roots. Here we have a community. Here we have schools that meet my daughter's needs. We can't just go anywhere, and this is something that needs to be humanized, because not just any offer should be okay, like there should be a really intentional offer that fits individual needs, because that affects our mental health and our health in general. Damien - I think there is a stigma. Well, we offered them something, or, Oh, they were offered a voucher, and especially around the project room key. We would hear that a lot. Well, they were offered a hotel, Marta - Like the phrase beggars can't be choosers. Damien - Project room key was very well intentioned, but it was also there, but it was also very uneven. Some facilities worked great. Some did not. But I would hear that a lot when we were talking about that program back during the pandemic with people, well, they were offered something and didn't take it as though that somehow moved down their value, almost. Marta - Yeah, I agree. Anything else? Damien - No. Well, thank you both for your time. You know, always said, feel free to reach out if there's something we should know. I would love to hear if the people are ready to move into the El Sereno Community Land Trust home. We know if and when that happens, I should say when that happens, it will, you know, we would love to be able to come out and cover that, you know, highlight that success slowly, for sure. Yeah, well, I mean, you know, to take a house that's fallen into disrepair and get it ready like that is an undertaking. And for a nonprofit that's doing it for the first time, it's a double undertaking. You know, the next one will be easier. I understand that. Marta - it's gonna be difficult. They're looking for funding for this house. They plan to do it ecologically. So they're doing a lot of research on Earth build, that is, that is also fire friendly, because we know what happened in Altadena and those houses there. So these are going to be more fire resilient with clay. And also they're sustainable, and this is the type of housing that we need in Los Angeles. So I'm really excited for this project. I know it's going to be hard to fund it, but we're looking forward to this project.    

This week's SGV Connect reconnects with the Reclaimers (full coverage), the group of formerly homeless people that moved into Caltrans-owned houses at the start of the pandemic without the agency's permission. Over the past five years, the Reclaimers have been on a legal odyssey that's involved not just Caltrans and the three cities where the transportation agency owned houses in the right of way for a now cancelled freeway extension, but also the California Highway Patrol, and even the Governor's Office. This interview focuses mostly on the story of Benito Flores, a 76-year old handyman still residing at a Caltrans owned home in El Sereno. Flores has resisted eviction, and plans to stay in the house until he is forcibly removed. When the Sheriffs eventually arrive to remove him, he plans on escaping to a treehouse he has built on the property. He hopes his action continues to draw attention to how the housing system continues to work against people of lesser means and promotes a rent strike he hopes will materialize in December of 2026. Flores claims that the Housing Authority for the City of Los Angeles has lied about him in court filings when they stated that he refused permanent supportive housing. At Flores' request, we asked HACLA to comment on this. Their full comment is below, right before the audio from the podcast. Statement from HACLA: For the past five years, The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has managed the El Sereno Temporary Housing Program under a lease with Caltrans, providing essential resources including utilities, case management, housing navigation placement support and financial subsidies to over 44 households and close to 150 individuals, including Mr. Benito Flores. This program has helped over 90% of our families find permanent housing, with more placements underway. We understand that for Mr. Flores, this is not just about a house but a home, which is why he has been provided with the fullest array of services and housing search assistance including referrals to multiple permanent affordable housing sites as well as access to an emergency housing voucher, which unfortunately, he refused.  HACLA offered several housing referrals, including some deeply affordable options, including senior housing and permanent supportive housing. During the pandemic, HACLA offered Mr. Flores an emergency housing voucher which could be used in the private market to expand his housing options. Additionally, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) attempted to complete applications on Mr. Flores' behalf so he could be prioritized in the Coordinated Entry System for placement into permanent supportive housing. Regarding documentation, it is our general policy not to release private information about our program participants and we have confirmed with PATH that we cannot release any of Mr. Flores' case notes. SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.” Sign-up for our SGV Connect Newsletter, coming to your inbox on Fridays!    

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Analytic Estrella en Ascenso Gabito Ballesteros - Analytic DreamzEn este segmento de Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz explora el ascenso del cantante y compositor mexicano Gabito Ballesteros. Aquí te contamos:Quién es Gabito: Desde su nacimiento en Cumpas, Sonora, hasta su influencia musical.Carrera Musical: Desde sus inicios con la guitarra hasta éxitos como "AMG" con Natanael Cano y Peso Pluma.Colaboraciones y Éxitos: Análisis de sus hits y colaboraciones clave.Reconocimientos: Su nombramiento por Billboard y su acuerdo con Warner Chappell.Próximo Álbum y Tour: Detalles sobre The GB y sus fechas de gira en 2024.Eventos Especiales: Su actuación con Peso Pluma y Belinda, y el sencillo "Presidente".Cómo Seguirlo: Dónde encontrar actualizaciones sobre Gabito.Únete a Analytic Dreamz para conocer más sobre Gabito Ballesteros en este segmento de Notorious Mass Effect.Rising Star Gabito Ballesteros - Analytic DreamzIn this segment of Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz explores the meteoric rise of Mexican singer-songwriter Gabito Ballesteros, a name becoming synonymous with the fresh wave of Corridos Tumbados. Here's what the segment covers:Introduction to Gabito Ballesteros: Who is Gabito Ballesteros? Learn about his background, from his birth in Cumpas, Sonora, to his early musical influences shaped by both traditional mariachi and modern beats.Musical Journey: Trace Gabito's path from learning guitar at eight years old to his significant achievements in the music industry, including his collaboration on "AMG," which not only hit the Billboard Hot 100 but also topped the Hot Latin Songs chart.Impactful Singles and Collaborations: Dive into the stories behind hits like “El Chaman,” “El Sereno,” and “La Bolsa Gucci,” and discuss his collaborations with artists like Natanael Cano, Peso Pluma, and Junior H., showcasing his versatility and appeal in the music scene.Recognition and Growth: Gabito's ascent was marked by his recognition as Latin Artist on the Rise by Billboard and his recent publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, highlighting his growing influence in the genre.Upcoming Projects: Get the scoop on Gabito's new album The GB, set for release on May 23, 2024, with a focus on the key track “La Niña” featuring Kenia OS. Discuss the significance of this album in his career trajectory.2024 Tour Overview: Analytic Dreamz will outline Gabito's tour schedule, from his performance in El Cajon, CA, to Los Angeles, CA, providing listeners with insights on where they can catch him live.Special Events and Collaborations: Highlight his upcoming performances with Peso Pluma and Belinda, and delve into his latest single "Presidente," released on October 21, 2024, with Natanael Cano, Luis R, and Neton Vega.Where to Follow Gabito: Tips on how fans can stay updated with Gabito Ballesteros's music releases, live performances, and more through social media and music platforms.Join Analytic Dreamz as we unpack the world of Gabito Ballesteros, understanding not just the music but the man behind the melodies in this comprehensive segment of Notorious Mass Effect.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mayor Karen Bass returned from Paris to LA on Monday, bringing the official Olympic flag with her. She talks about preparing LA for the 2028 Games and what it will mean for homelessness.  The epicenter of Monday’s 4.4 magnitude earthquake was in El Sereno on the Puente Hills fault system. While it's not as famous as the San Andreas fault, it could be more dangerous.   The documentary “Sugarcane” reveals the painful history of Catholic-run boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada, where thousands of Native children suffered horrific abuse. Many psychedelic mushroom edibles don't contain the active ingredient psilocybin, and have potentially harmful or illegal compounds, a recent LA Times investigation found. 

Cynthia Duarte grew up in El Sereno and currently resides in Covina. She works for the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization with locations in Pasadena, Monrovia, and Duarte. Cynthia's journey with the organization began as a participant in a welfare-to-work program. Starting as a volunteer, she has advanced through various roles over the past five years, from office volunteer to her current position as Marketing Specialist.Cynthia's personal background includes growing up as a light-skinned Latina in a predominantly Mexican community. She attended the University of La Verne and, shortly after graduating, married and started a family. Tragically, she lost her first-born son shortly after his birth but went on to have two daughters by the time she was 25. Initially a stay-at-home mom, Cynthia began blogging in 2011, becoming part of the early wave of social media influencers. However, following the end of her marriage in 2018, she transitioned to a traditional 9-to-5 job to support her family as a single mother. This transition led her to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, where Cynthia currently works, has been serving the community for 34 years. The organization focuses on building homes, promoting affordable homeownership, providing low-income families with home preservation assistance, and reselling donated items at its ReStores to benefit the public.Website: sgvhabitat.orgWork Instagram: @sgvhabitatReStores Instagram: @sgvrestoresPersonal Instagram: @kindasillymommy___________________Music CreditsIntroLike it Loud, Dyalla, YouTube Audio LibraryStingerScarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio LibraryOutroIndecision, Dyalla, YouTube Audio Library__________________My SGV Podcast:Website: www.mysgv.netNewsletter: Beyond the MicPatreon: MySGV Podcastinfo@sgvmasterkey.com

On this episode we talk about Food Equity with Latina leaders who are committed to making healthy food accessible to all communities here in Los Angeles. You'll learn about the LA Food Policy Council and the creative ways this organization cultivates a diverse network of change makers from across our food system, from farm to fork and beyond, and this work is important to equity.  This panel conversation includes: Alba Velasquez who leads the Los Angeles Food Policy Council as the Executive Director, Erika Crenshaw, Co-Owner of El Sereno Greengrocer, a one year old corner shop in El Sereno, in Northeast LA and Jocelyn Ramirez, a Plant-Forward Chef whose product line of seasoning is sold at El Sereno Greengrocer. Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We're here to uplift our community through powerful conversations with changemakers, creatives, and healers. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval are executive producers of Tamarindo podcast with production support by Karina Riveroll of Sonoro Media. Clivia Torres edits our YouTube episodes. Jeff Ricards produced our theme song. If you want to support our work, please rate and review our show here.  SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on twitter at @tamarindocast .  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CEO for Habitat for Humanity in the San Gabriel Valley joins Hal to talk about their new project to buy and rehabilitate homes in the El Sereno area. Then, hear about the recent project at Nicolas Junior High, which allows woodshop students to participate in the building of a tiny house.

This week's SGV Connect continues our theme of focusing in on various areas of the SGV for our podcast episodes by looking at the Greater Pasadena area. First, Damien and Chris traveled to El Sereno to meet with some of the Reclaimers, unhoused residents of El Sereno who moved into Caltrans owned properties during the pandemic. Benito, Sandra and Fanny return to SGV Connect (their first appearance can be found here) to advocate for affordable housing and community spaces, discuss the ongoing eviction battle between Caltrans and the Reclaimers. Personal stories and experiences are shared, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice from those in power: especially Caltrans, the county's homeless services provider, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin DeLeon. A transcript of their discussion can be found here. This discussion references the Roberti Act, passed in the 1970's to guide Caltrans on how to manage and eventually sell these properties. A good description of Roberti can be found in this article about the competing vision between the Reclaimers and DeLeon for El Sereno. Rick Cole has been a regular commenter at Streetsblog and Santa Monica Next for years. After his election to the Pasadena City Council in March, we reached back out to him to discuss the need to improve Pasadena's transportation infrastructure and engage the community in a more inclusive and proactive approach to address gentrification. Cole emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety, affordability, and alternatives to car use, and the need for a more inclusive approach to urban planning, involving the public in decision-making processes. A transcript of their discussion can be found here.   SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Boarded-up houses in El Sereno are to be rehabbed for low-income buyers. Alex Villanueva set to sue LA County for alleged damage to his reputation. A decades-old donkey cart attraction in DTLA could close over a contract issue. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com.  Support the show: https://laist.com

El Sereno native, Joey Abril, owner of El Arabachi who was also an actor stopped by the show to share his story on his upbringing , acting career and how he prefers plant remedies over any pharmaceuticals recommendations. Topics and conversations that can help ones thinking if they are ready to receive the message . Support the show

On March 14th, 2020, Martha Escudero and her two daughters became the first family to occupy one of over a hundred vacant homes in El Sereno, Los Angeles. Some people call them squatters, but they call themselves the Reclaimers. The Reclaimers are occupying houses that belong to the California Department of Transportation, who planned to demolish them to build a freeway through this largely Latinx and immigrant neighborhood. This is the story of one of these houses, and its residents, past and present, who have fought to make it their home. This episode originally aired in November 2020.

Capítulo 2034 del 18 dic 2023 Aunque no es la primera ciudad que lo implanta, a raíz de una noticia donde en Sevilla van a haber una prueba con un grupo de personas ejerciendo de sereno, quiero traer mi opinión sobre lo que me parece una gran idea. El rincón de Josete Únete al grupo de telegram del podcast en t.me/daytodaypod. Usa el enlace de afiliado de Amazon para ayudar a mantener el podcast. Soy miembro de la Asociación Podcast. Si te registras y usas el codigo SP7F21 tendrás 5€ de descuento el primer año. https://www.asociacionpodcast.es/registrarse/socio/?coupon=SP7F21 Date de alta en Curve con este código y conseguiremos 5£: DO6QR47E Ya sabéis que podéis escribirme a @spascual, spascual@spascual.es el resto de métodos de contacto en https://spascual.es/contacto.

Aunque no es la primera ciudad que lo implanta, a raíz de una noticia donde en Sevilla van a haber una prueba con un grupo de personas ejerciendo de sereno, quiero traer mi opinión sobre lo que me parece una gran idea.

#180: Even if you are not a parent in the Los Angeles Unified School District, you are probably aware of its size and the challenges of managing a system of 14-hundred schools and 400,000 students from Sylmar to San Pedro, from Westwood to El Sereno. In many respects it's like managing a small country. Now imagine having to configure EVERY classroom… EVERY year… for EVERY school based on an EXPECTATION that a certain number of students show up on the first day of school. You're hiring teachers and staff to support the students, balancing the number of kids in each class and juggling whole bunch of other stuff. Then at the start of the school year, some of these students don't come. And everything needs to change.Sounds like a logistical headache, right? Well, it's a process that continues to plague LAUSD every year. It's called "Norm Day" and we'll get into how it works…what's at stake …and what one school is doing about it.  Guest: Mariana Dale LAist K-12 Education Reporter 

People say, "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day." For some entrepreneurs, it's even bigger than that; realizing their business is their true purpose feels like throwing a party every day. In this episode, Lucy Thompson-Ramirez joins us to talk about entrepreneurship, hard work, courage, and the rewarding sensation of leaving imposter syndrome behind and chasing our dreams. Lucy is the Co-owner of Pez Cantina, a restaurant that combines Lucy's Mexican culinary roots with her husband Bret's refined chef skills. Daughter of Mexican immigrants, her mom a factory worker and her dad a welder by trade, Lucy tried the academic route and got a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. While studying, Lucy discovered she was good at running a business, so right after she graduated from college, she made a life-changing decision. Throughout our conversation, you'll hear about Lucy's upbringing, her parents' influence and support, and how she started in business. You'll also hear about her time in the fashion industry, her first steps in the restaurant business, her decision to go after her dreams and ignore her imposter syndrome, and much more. Tune in to Episode 156 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, listen to Lucy's story, and you'll probably discover that that big decision you want to make isn't as scary as it looks. In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Lucy's background and upbringing in El Sereno (3:50)Why Lucy decided to study Sociology (7:00)Lucy's first steps in entrepreneurship (13:00)Lucy talks about the birth of Pez Cantina (14:20)Throwing a party every day (22:00)Connect with Lucy:LinkedInVisit Pez Cantina's websitePez Cantina InstagramPez Cantina YouTube channelPez Cantina FacebookLet's Connect!WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInJackie Tapia Arbonne website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two El Sereno residents opened a market to give their neighbors access to affordable and healthy food, plus a sense of community. For just 12 days, Hadestown is returning to Los Angeles – the city where two producers began to develop the original album into a hit musical. Jordan Brandman was a former Anaheim City Council member who resigned amid scandal and eventually became a whistleblower. He died over the weekend.

https://www.instagram.com/elserenogreengrocer/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A El Sereno, CA native, L.A EYEKON shares his journey in life from being homeless as a teenager, being a rapper, being a teenage Dad at 16 years old to now being a professional film and photographer and a professional sh*t talker on The Foo community, No Jumper and director on Indictedv.Support the show

J.J Soria, a Latino actor from El Sereno, CA came to share his story on his journey in becoming an actor.  Success is about how we maneuver our life when everything is against us. J.J speaks on growing up without a father, getting his face nearly ripped off by his dog, suffering a head injury to now being a 20 year actor who is on a mission to help motivate and inspire others that may have doubt in their ability to accomplish big dreams.Support the show

Sua Hernandez is the Director of Housing Resilience & Executive Administrator at El Sereno Community Land Trust. She's been working in affordable housing since the late 90s and is an alumni of Occidental College, with a BA in urban and environmental policy. We talk about differences between co-ops, land trusts, and a community development corporation. Sua shares some of the questions ESCLT staff asks themselves to establish and maintain a culture of dignity and autonomy, and why that's important. Learn more about Community Land Trusts:  https://www.shareable.net/infographic-the-why-how-of-community-land-trusts/ https://groundedsolutions.org/strengthening-neighborhoods/community-land-trusts  Follow El Sereno Community Land Trust on IG: https://www.instagram.com/elserenocommunitylandtrust/  Follow El Sereno Community Land Trust on Twitter: https://twitter.com/land_elsereno  Here's some of the readings Sua mentioned, use these affiliate links that will support independent bookstores & this podcast:  Howards End: https://bookshop.org/a/9735/9780141182131 Kuxlejal Politics: Indigenous Autonomy, Race, and Decolonizing Research in Zapatista Communities: https://bookshop.org/a/9735/9781477314470  Support via Spotify/Anchor at just .99c/month: anchor.fm/btspodcast  Sign up for Rakuten & get cash back on tons of purchases: https://www.rakuten.com/r/LYNAEM19 Book your next hotel stay using HotelTonight & save: LCOOK61 Follow on IG: @btsthepodcast  Follow me on IG & TW: @lynaecook  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/btspodcast/support

CALLERS: Al in Detroit, MI: Kids playing chicken, white man Steve Utash beaten in 2014, kids not working… Johnny in SD, orig from El Sereno, CA (next to Alhambra)... Tyler in CA people live past 100… Joe in TX (1st-timer) asks about MTG, Elder, Biden's mind… REPLAY 4/14/14 hr1 JLP: Detroit break-in shooting of teen (29-min)... 

 A few inches down and he would have been dead in the front seat of his mom's Mitsubishi. Yet as Raul weaved in and out of traffic towards his future, untouched and laughing, it seemed like it was just another day in 1990s Los Angeles. Flash forward to the present and Raul Baltazar is still in LA, now an established painter and performance artist working to understand the experiences of Mestizo and Mesoamerican Indigenous communities. With exhibitions held in LA, Mexico, Taiwan, Vienna, and Australia, Baltazar's exploration of post colonialism and trauma responses has earned him international acclaim over the past decade. But before he ever went to art school or joined a drag show at the navy, Raul first found his love for art in his hometown. Whether he was going to school or merely walking with his friends, El Sereno's Chicano murals stood out from every wall, telling a story of past resistance…

Albert Reyes was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Panorama City in 1971 and grew up in the working class neighborhood of El Sereno. Having been known to create artwork out of anything from what he has in his pockets to whatever he can find walking through his neighborhood. He has also shown in a gallery along with a painting by Picasso. These same strange dualities and juxtapositions are highly prevalent in his work, which tackles both conceptual and graffiti art. Recognized for his ubiquitous “GIVE “ tag, Albert has a distinctive artistic approach inspired not only by street art, comic books, and American pop culture; but also by contemporary and classical “high art “. Many of his drawings and illustrations incorporate everything from icons of corporate America to Hollywood stars to mass media to politics to consumerism. His goals are simple: make a living as an artist and use his talent to make a positive impact on people's lives.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE and COMMENT!Share with your friends.Thank you for listening.Donate through VENMO: @DANCNGSOBR Find Albert Reyes at:Instagram: @thealbertreyes ----my LINKS:Merch: http://rafa.LA​​​​​​​​​​​​​​/shopMy photography: http://rafa.LA​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Recorded at Espacio 1839https://www.espacio1839.com_____Recorded on TASCAM Mixcast and Mics*************************************Suicide prevention:Dial: 988, for Suicide and Crisis LifelineOnline visit: https://988lifeline.orgSubstance Abuse and Mental HealthSAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357Online visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/nati...*************************************

This week's SGV Connect is the second in our “Reclaimers” series, focusing on the efforts of a group of formerly homeless activists in the El Sereno to be housed in formerly unoccupied homes owned by Caltrans. The first interview featured six Reclaimers who shared their personal stories on how they fell into homelessness, strived to be rehoused, and then life as a Reclaimer. The stories are powerful and raw. You can hear the podcast here, and read the transcript here. Today's podcast is the follow-up to that one. We are joined by Timothy Ivison with the United Caltrans Tenants Union and Kristina Meshelski, a leader with the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and a philosophy professor at Cal State Northridge. This pair of activists have worked with and adjacent to the Reclaimer movement. A full transcript of this interview can be found here. SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.” Sign-up for our SGV Connect Newsletter, coming to your inbox on Fridays, and catch past episodes of SGV Connect and #DamienTalks on LibSyn, iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast.

We are Reclaimers because we have to because of desperation. - Benito, one of the Reclaimers living in El Sereno. SGV Connect is sponsored by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit was not consulted about the content of this podcast and the views expressed are those of the participants and interviewer and may or may not be representative of the views of Foothill Transit, its board, or its staff. A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to interview four of the El Sereno Caltrans Home Reclaimers: Benito, Marta, Ruby and Sandra. They were joined by two supporters, Roberto Flores and Franny Martinez. I thought the interview would be a standard SGV Connect, updating listeners to the status of the reclaimer movement and their own lives since our last update over a year ago. What happened instead was an hour and ten minute emotional discussion of their lives both as Reclaimers and previously as people experiencing homelessness, why they chose to occupy unoccupied Caltrans-owned properties, their current legal status, and what will happen if courts uphold an eviction notice they received last month. So we're doing things a little differently this time. We're skipping our regular introduction, and going right into the interview in the podcast. Below the embed, instead of the usual ad text is a story and summary of the interview which might be a little easier for folks to follow than the transcript (which you can read here if you choose.) On the night of March 14, 2020, the world was in crisis. The COVID-19 shutdowns were just starting to roll across California, and the long- and short-term future was looking cloudy. That evening a group of people experiencing homelessness, with the support of a team of activists and community members broke into unoccupied Caltrans-owned houses and (re)claimed them as a place to live for themselves and their families. Caltrans owns houses along the 710-corridor as part of their now-abandoned efforts to extend the 710 Freeway north from its current terminus. “I am from El Sereno. I saw these homes empty. And I always thought, ‘How come nobody does anything?', recounted Sandra. “I never connected the way how these homes were hoarded and how other people are homeless in their tents. But when somebody mentioned that we're going to squat in them, it totally makes sense….why hasn't somebody done this sooner?” At the time, nobody was exactly sure what would happen. Would the state police, LAPD or the Sheriffs show up and forcibly remove them? Would the chaos of the moment allow them to slip by unnoticed for a period of time? The initial reclaiming of the houses was meant as a statement about how unjust it was for so many houses to be unsettled when the homeless crisis locally, regionally and nationally was so large; but what would happen to the Reclaimers who were in the houses themselves? In the end, the Reclaimers were either allowed to stay or moved to different short-term housing while they awaited a chance to move into permanent housing. “The state and the whole world was in chaos,” recounts Marta of the day she moved in to her reclaimed home. “So they didn't take us out. Governor Newsom told the CHP to stand down and not do anything when we reclaimed. But then with that process came also an offer to HACLA [Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles] and PATH [People Assisting the Homeless] agency here in Los Angeles, to give us temporary housing.” Unfortunately, the story doesn't end there.  For over three years, the Reclaimers have signed leases with Caltrans, and had them expire without permanent housing offers. They created the El Sereno Community Land Trust to purchase as many of the homes as it could to offer to Reclaimers and others experiencing homelessness; but they found the Trust excluded from local planning by disgraced racist Councilmember Kevin DeLeon and state legislation by Senator María Elena Durazo. They have put in roots in the community, or deeper roots for those with a previous connection; but still received eviction notices for their temporary housing last month. Instead of a move into permanent housing, they find themselves fighting in court for the right to stay where they are. But while working with, or trying to work with, the government has proven difficult and frustrating, the Reclaimers have been buoyed by the support of a progressive community in Los Angeles, and with some education found that their physical neighbors would come to appreciate and welcome them as well. “It was a lot of misinformation,” recounts Marta of her first interactions with her new neighbors. “They were saying that the Reclaimers were not from El Sereno. The majority of the Reclaimers are actually from this community, from El Sereno…Another thing that they said [was that] there was a lot of other services, or other things, that the city provides…as Sandra said that she wasn't offered any.” Over time, things began to change.  “In getting to know the neighbors and also talking to them about this misinformation; some of them did change their minds, not all of them. And my experience with my current neighbors is really good,” she continued. “Soon as I moved in, they offered material help. I am a single mother of two daughters, and so they also offered, you know, just to keep an eye out and keep me and my daughter safe, which I totally am grateful for.” Which isn't to say it has been all smooth sailing in the interactions with the previously housed community. Benito is older, and his English isn't as smooth as the other Reclaimers in the interview. He contrasts his experiences with the community broadly with that of his physical neighbors. “I have one very good neighbor. And I have two neighbors who actually don't talk to me. I think they're confused. Because they are confused about the idea of ‘law and order.' …They are really good people. So they said they understand the homeless, but this is not a way to take the…to go in the house illegally.” Benito says. “Some neighbors are angry, but there are more neighbors on our side. Who opened the house for us? The neighbors. Who was bringing us food? The neighbors. Who was keeping guard in the street to keep us safe? The neighbors. The people.” Benito, like the other Reclaimers on the call, recounts the differences between life as an unhoused person on the street and life as a Reclaimer. In response to a question of, “Why?” His answer is simple.  “​​We are reclaimer because we have to…because of desperation,” he said. And part of that desperation, as Marta mentions above, is that the services offered by the city and county aren't sufficient to meet the needs of the mammoth unhoused population. Sandra and her family lived in a park as part of a large encampment near the Eastside Café where she, Marta, Franny and Roberto met to take part in the interview. The encampment was well known in the neighborhood and was politically controversial. In her months living in the encampment, she said she could not remember a time when social services reached out to offer help.  “Not one time. Not one time did someone come to offer me services,” Sandra recounted of her time in the park. But once the Reclaimers were in the house and the Governor ordered CHP to stand down, things changed. “I remember people were getting placed in hotels. But before that, they didn't even want to do a homeless count.” Which isn't to say the relationship between the Reclaimers and government agencies has been smooth. From basic annoyances - Ruby recounting how she often would have to “tell her life story” to multiple people from the same department over the course of a week - to larger ones; the first leases Reclaimers signed were described as “carceral” by the people who signed them. The road has been bumpy. Offers for more stable housing are often far away from where the Reclaimers currently live, which would take them away from support networks, medical care and jobs. “The houses are there.” Is a refrain you can hear repeatedly throughout the interview as the Reclaimers wonder why agencies seem intent on moving them away from the neighborhood they live in, and in many cases grew up in, instead of finding ways for them to stay where they are. The answer is simple. The city and county have designs for the “Caltrans homes” in El Sereno. DeLeon was a de facto spokesperson for the program but has shrunk to the background following the release of his racist diatribe in the “fed tapes” and his efforts to use redistricting to marginalize historically black communities. Streetsblog broke down the differences between DeLeon's plans and those offered by the community in an article last year. However, just because DeLeon is in the background doesn't mean the plans have changed. “Kevin De Leon's plans didn't go by the wayside,” explains Flores. “What happened is that HACLA is substituting in for Kevin de Leon and trying to legitimize the proposal.” The DeLeon/HACLA proposal has greater power behind it because of S.B. 51, authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and signed into law last year. Among other things, the legislation disallows the selling of Caltrans housing to a co-op in El Sereno. Curiously, this provision of the legislation does not apply to properties in Pasadena and South Pasadena that are also owned by Caltrans and are part of the I-710 Corridor. “I'm really irritated with Maria Elena Durazo,” begins Ruby. “She's the image of, of what I once looked up to as an activist…somebody that was standing up for the marginalized, the unhoused, the immigrant, the hungry.” But after S.B. 51, that image changed.  “For what? For her to acquire this, this position in the state and all of a sudden to decide that that's not what El Sereno needs?.... By creating a bill that was going to leave Pasadena and Alhambra, good and allow them purchase the houses in their hood. But not El Sereno? Because we're Brown, we can't buy the houses?” While the Reclaimers have lived stressful lives, the urgency moved back into desperation when eviction notices arrived last month giving them three days to vacate their properties. The Reclaimers immediately took legal action to vacate the notice, but they face a dark short-term future should they fail in court. While there may not be a “Plan B” if they lose in court, going back to the streets is not an option. “You're going to have to take me out in handcuffs,” says Ruby. “But we're definitely not going to go back to the streets. I do not plan to go back to my car,” adds Sandra. “There is only ‘Plan A.' And that's to fight, fight, fight, fight,” finishes Benito. And if there's one message the Reclaimers would like to leave, it's that this movement isn't just about them. Their story, their struggle, will hopefully end with them permanently housed. But they also hope they are part of a larger struggle to improve conditions for unhoused people throughout the world by showing what is possible if governments' efforts are to truly help the unhoused become housed again. “We're not here to just occupy space, we want to create justice for not only for El Sereno, but I think for housing in general,” says Ruby. “This is a global epidemic at this point.” And the solution is for the government to work with the unhoused, and work with the Reclaimers instead of working around or even against them. “We want to see the government sitting down and negotiating with the Reclaimers,” concludes Fanny. “They should create a pathway in housing homeless people instead of criminalizing them. Because as we see, the homeless encampments are being gated. And that's a loud and clear response from the government saying, ‘We don't want you in the streets'…They need to sit down and negotiate with the Reclaimers and create a pathway with the Reclaimers to house homeless folks. Because who else better than the homeless people who reclaim these homes and make it into a house for themselves and their families and their kids?”

Tonight: California is suing Huntington Beach over housing requirements as the city fights back with a federal lawsuit; Three LAPD officers are in the hospital after they were injured during a gunfight in Lincoln Heights; The LAPD says there could be a second person involved in the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in El Sereno, and more. Support the L.A. Report by donating now at LAist.com/joinSupport the show: https://laist.com

Wayne Resnick and Jennifer Jones Lee team up with Bill for Handel on the News! The mother of Anthony Avalos and her boyfriend have been found guilty of the 10-year-old's death. A 17-year-old straight-A student was fatally stabbed outside of a restaurant in El Sereno. And Highway 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains is being inspected for an avalanche threat.

Two years after they fought for the right to live in vacant, state-owned houses in El Sereno, a group of activists are facing eviction. They hope to stay in the houses for good. Democratic State Senator Sydney Kamlager has been elected to replace LA mayoral hopeful Karen Bass in Congress. Can she find her way in a divided Washington?

- PEDRITO EL SERENO - |Historias De Terror| HDT --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/historiasdeterrorhdt/support

Somos luz a los demás, enseñándoles de Cristo

¡Vámonos! Because in this podcast, you will be listening to LGBTQ+ vendors, artists, & creators that make up the Queer Mercado Community. You will get to hear their stories, motivations, and the many ways they contribute to their local communities. They are the magic of the Queer Mercado (QM).Get ready to listen to the love, passion, and dedication behind the QM with your host Gaudencio Márquez.In this episode, you will meet Angie Vizcaya, Founder of Diosa Glam, and Erick Solis, her associate. Diosa Glam is a vegan cosmetics and merch brand and they specialize in high-quality products made with love. DIOSA MEANS GODDESS♡Vegan AF♡Cruelty-Free♡Latina

¡Vámonos! Because in this podcast, you will be listening to LGBTQ+ vendors, artists, & creators that make up the Queer Mercado Community. You will get to hear their stories, motivations, and the many ways they contribute to their local communities. They are the magic of the Queer Mercado (QM).Get ready to listen to the love, passion, and dedication behind the QM with your host Gaudencio Márquez.In this episode, you will meet Tina Arroyos, founder of Tina Latina.  Tina is an artist that works with resin, paper mache, and stained glass. In addition, Tina is a sculptor, and whatever she can get her hands on, she can make art with it.  Read more about Tina Latina here.This episode was recorded at The Goddess Mercado Boutique in El Sereno. YelpThank you for listening! This podcast has been made possible by the incredible leadership of our producer Xavier Mejia, our sponsors, Kaiser Permanente, REACH LA & a list of community backers, which you will see in the show notes.   Queer Mercado Theme Song:El Mercado by Hector Jose Ortiz and Rachael RodriguezRead about the Queer Mercado hereEmail: thequeermercado@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thequeermercadoTo tip The Queer MercadoTo tip mejia.tvPodcast Backers:Jessica AnconaAmy YeagerRachel BarbosaXimena MartinAaron SaenzMelissa DeSimoneMichelle RodriquezVictoria MartinezChris Garcia and Mick Ramos-GarciaLaw Office of Mario TrujilloMarisa MejiaAnnie MartinezArturo AviñaMario MontezMonique ManningJackie VarelaRobbin HuntingdaleTHANK YOU!!!!For those who haven't experienced the QM, we are a permanent market in EAST LA that happens every 3rd Saturday (10 - 4 pm) at the Hilda Solis Learning Academy. We are a vendor community composed of LGBTQ + artists, creators & business owners where we not only celebrate our cultura & our queerness, but we are also here to uplift and create economic opportunities for each other.  

Helping our Communities... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tricia-thomas1/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tricia-thomas1/support

Today on Sojourner Truth: The latest and analysis of the stimulus legislation now being debated in the Senate. Our guest is Dr. Eileen Appelbaum, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. Increasingly, we are all becoming dependent on deliveries of food and other essential goods to our homes during the coronavirus crisis. What risks are those working in the delivery industry taking to make our lives easier now? How are they being protected? We speak with Omar Moreno, a warehouse worker and driver for the United Parcel Service (UPS), and Bill Gallegos, a longtime Chicano Liberation and environmental justice activist. Also, under the banner of "The Reclaimers," the occupation of city-owned houses by those who are homeless or housing insecure continue in the El Sereno neighborhood of East Los Angeles. Our guests are Ruby Gordillo, a 33-year-old Angeleno with three children, and Roberto Flores, a lifelong fighter for social justice and co-founder of the Eastside Cafe in Los Angeles.

In this week's episode Claudia Lara, community activist and instructor at the Warriors Community Self Defense in El Sereno, a community based program designed to empower marginalized communities by providing self-defense teachings, joins me to talk about the art of Jiu Jitsu, embracing our cultural roots, and the importance of creating spaces made for the people, by the people. ------ Website: http://www.warriorscsd.com/ Music: Murderdatt - Drippin' Gold https://soundcloud.com/murderdatt --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/social-primate-podcast/support

Today on Sojourner Truth: We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed." Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed." Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed." Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed." Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed." Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed." Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We continue coverage of our recent trip to Haiti, where the Sojourner Truth team covered the graduation of students from the University of the Aristide Foundation, known as UNIFA. Also, we visited La Saline, in Haiti's Port-au-Prince, where residents say the worst massacre since the brutal Duvalier years took place. The massacres began in November 2018 and are continuing. They are being wrongly reported by mainstream media as resulting from gang warfare and we are told they occur with the knowledge and support of the U.S.-backed Haitian government of Jovenel Moise. Our guests are Judith Mirkinson, President of the National Lawyers Guild in the Bay Area, and Seth Donnelly, a human rights campaigner and teacher in Palo Alto, California. They were part of a human rights delegation to Haiti. We spoke to them while on the ground in Haiti about their experiences. Also, we celebrate National Poetry Month, which is marked in April annually in the United States and Canada. The Academy of American Poets kicked off the month-long celebration in 1996 in order to create awareness and appreciation of poetry. They took inspiration from Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, and Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March. The push to promote National Poetry Month " including the works of Black Women poets like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Gwendolyn Brooks " has proven to be successful. Many educators and librarians in the United States have embraced the initiative, including it in their school curriculums and lesson plans. And according to a 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts conducted by the National Endowment of the Arts, the number of poetry readers in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years, from 6.7 percent of U.S. adults in 2012 to nearly 12 percent in 2017. That means 28 million people read a poem in 2017, the highest number since the first survey was first conducted 16 years ago. In honor of National Poetry Month, we hear from Ron Baca, a teacher and Chicano poet who grew up in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and is now based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We continue coverage of our recent trip to Haiti, where the Sojourner Truth team covered the graduation of students from the University of the Aristide Foundation, known as UNIFA. Also, we visited La Saline, in Haiti's Port-au-Prince, where residents say the worst massacre since the brutal Duvalier years took place. The massacres began in November 2018 and are continuing. They are being wrongly reported by mainstream media as resulting from gang warfare and we are told they occur with the knowledge and support of the U.S.-backed Haitian government of Jovenel Moise. Our guests are Judith Mirkinson, President of the National Lawyers Guild in the Bay Area, and Seth Donnelly, a human rights campaigner and teacher in Palo Alto, California. They were part of a human rights delegation to Haiti. We spoke to them while on the ground in Haiti about their experiences. Also, we celebrate National Poetry Month, which is marked in April annually in the United States and Canada. The Academy of American Poets kicked off the month-long celebration in 1996 in order to create awareness and appreciation of poetry. They took inspiration from Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, and Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March. The push to promote National Poetry Month " including the works of Black Women poets like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Gwendolyn Brooks " has proven to be successful. Many educators and librarians in the United States have embraced the initiative, including it in their school curriculums and lesson plans. And according to a 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts conducted by the National Endowment of the Arts, the number of poetry readers in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years, from 6.7 percent of U.S. adults in 2012 to nearly 12 percent in 2017. That means 28 million people read a poem in 2017, the highest number since the first survey was first conducted 16 years ago. In honor of National Poetry Month, we hear from Ron Baca, a teacher and Chicano poet who grew up in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and is now based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We continue coverage of our recent trip to Haiti, where the Sojourner Truth team covered the graduation of students from the University of the Aristide Foundation, known as UNIFA. Also, we visited La Saline, in Haiti's Port-au-Prince, where residents say the worst massacre since the brutal Duvalier years took place. The massacres began in November 2018 and are continuing. They are being wrongly reported by mainstream media as resulting from gang warfare and we are told they occur with the knowledge and support of the U.S.-backed Haitian government of Jovenel Moise. Our guests are Judith Mirkinson, President of the National Lawyers Guild in the Bay Area, and Seth Donnelly, a human rights campaigner and teacher in Palo Alto, California. They were part of a human rights delegation to Haiti. We spoke to them while on the ground in Haiti about their experiences. Also, we celebrate National Poetry Month, which is marked in April annually in the United States and Canada. The Academy of American Poets kicked off the month-long celebration in 1996 in order to create awareness and appreciation of poetry. They took inspiration from Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, and Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March. The push to promote National Poetry Month " including the works of Black Women poets like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Gwendolyn Brooks " has proven to be successful. Many educators and librarians in the United States have embraced the initiative, including it in their school curriculums and lesson plans. And according to a 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts conducted by the National Endowment of the Arts, the number of poetry readers in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years, from 6.7 percent of U.S. adults in 2012 to nearly 12 percent in 2017. That means 28 million people read a poem in 2017, the highest number since the first survey was first conducted 16 years ago. In honor of National Poetry Month, we hear from Ron Baca, a teacher and Chicano poet who grew up in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and is now based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles.

Today on Sojourner Truth: We continue coverage of our recent trip to Haiti, where the Sojourner Truth team covered the graduation of students from the University of the Aristide Foundation, known as UNIFA. Also, we visited La Saline, in Haiti's Port-au-Prince, where residents say the worst massacre since the brutal Duvalier years took place. The massacres began in November 2018 and are continuing. They are being wrongly reported by mainstream media as resulting from gang warfare and we are told they occur with the knowledge and support of the U.S.-backed Haitian government of Jovenel Moise. Our guests are Judith Mirkinson, President of the National Lawyers Guild in the Bay Area, and Seth Donnelly, a human rights campaigner and teacher in Palo Alto, California. They were part of a human rights delegation to Haiti. We spoke to them while on the ground in Haiti about their experiences. Also, we celebrate National Poetry Month, which is marked in April annually in the United States and Canada. The Academy of American Poets kicked off the month-long celebration in 1996 in order to create awareness and appreciation of poetry. They took inspiration from Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, and Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March. The push to promote National Poetry Month " including the works of Black Women poets like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Gwendolyn Brooks " has proven to be successful. Many educators and librarians in the United States have embraced the initiative, including it in their school curriculums and lesson plans. And according to a 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts conducted by the National Endowment of the Arts, the number of poetry readers in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years, from 6.7 percent of U.S. adults in 2012 to nearly 12 percent in 2017. That means 28 million people read a poem in 2017, the highest number since the first survey was first conducted 16 years ago. In honor of National Poetry Month, we hear from Ron Baca, a teacher and Chicano poet who grew up in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and is now based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles.

El Sereno Episodio 177 Gerry y Zam recuerdan los mejores momentos de El Sereno, las grandes personalidades que desfilaron en cabina, las múltiples predicciones que hicieron en poco más de tres años y todos los temas concentraron más de 150 episodios con pura cultura urbana.

El Sereno Episodio 176 Llega un episodio más de El Sereno y esta vez, Gerry trae las mejores recomendaciones para comprar una patineta para aquellas personas que piensen regalarle una sus hijos o las quieran retomar el skate.

El Sereno Episodio 175: El Sereno recibe en cabina a una de las marcas más chidas de skateboarding en México llamada "Lítica Griptape" para hablar sobre su proyecto en video "Dekadenzia" y el increíble arte de sus lijas.

Esta semana don Daniel hizo un esfuerzo sobrehumano y se levantó de su lecho de enfermo para venir a grabar, porque se debe a su público de fieles auditorios. Además, hicimos un versus de grandes personajes de la radio y tv, por lo que esperamos que nos dejen sus comentarios al respecto. Saludos, Memo